Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Best Goal Call Ever

This was maybe the best football game I've ever seen (yeah, this is the real football). Newcastle United was down 4-0 to mighty Arsenal, which was the equivalent of being behind four or five touchdowns in American football. And then they came back with four second half goals, culminating in what you'll see when you click below.

Over the holidays, my kids showed me this YouTube video. I had seen the goal itself a hundred times, because it was from one of the most famous matches ever played. But I had never heard the broadcast from the Newcastle radio perspective. What you'll hear when you play this is an announcer named Justin Lockwood, and it will knock your socks off. I've never heard anything like it- gave me the goosebumps.


Friday, December 9, 2011

I Don't Have a Teboner, Just a Quarter-Chub

For both of you guys out there that read this shit, you might have noticed that I've never written anything about the game of football. And there's a good reason for that. I know it's probably un-American, but I don't particularly care for the game.

In fact, around my house, we use the word "football" to describe what the rest of you cretins call soccer. I have three players in my house, and I played for 25 years myself, so we love the "beautiful game". We spend all of our Saturdays and part of Sunday watching English Premier League football, which is the arguably the best league in the world. Then, when it's on, we'll watch Champions League matches, featuring the best teams in Europe. It's just brilliant. The kids and I even participate in a fantasy soccer league. No shit, they have those.

And we don't watch the MLS here at home. After seeing the best football in the world, I just can't make myself watch the MLS. It's a much lower level and it blows ass. Sorry, Colorado Rapids, but it's true. It's just fuckin' unwatchable.

Anyway, I'm not going to waste our time trying to convince you to love soccer like I do. Most of you out there probably hate it, because you think it's boring, and they don't score enough goals. Fair enough. But next June, please take a look at the European Championships on ESPN. You'll see what the game is all about, and you'll get hooked. Plus, someday soon I'm going to write an article about how passionate soccer fans are, and how they compare to American fans. It's not even close, but that's a discussion for another time.

Now, I haven't always disliked American football. In fact, growing up here in Denver, I lived and died with the Broncos. Even in the 60's and 70's, when they were terrible, my friends and I would gather every Sunday, play football in the morning, and then watch the game in the afternoon. This continued until probably around the year 2000 (not the playing, the watching), and then I gradually stopped watching games regularly. The only thing that made me watch at all was participating in a fantasy league, because I have a big ol' Gamblin' Jones.

But lately, something has kind of made me more interested in the game. I've gotten pretty fascinated at watching the journey of Tim Tebow this year, and I'm starting to get sucked back in a little bit. In fact, for the first time in forever, I actually taped the Denver/Minnesota game last Sunday, and watched it later that afternoon. And enjoyed the shit out of it. I yelled and everything, and I haven't done that in years.

Just a quick note: If I watch football at all, it has to be on DVR. The biggest reason I won't watch the game is because every three minutes. they cut to a fucking commercial. It just makes me crazy. That's reason number 73 why soccer is better. They play 45 straight minutes with no commercials. Let's move on...

There is just something about this kid that makes you want to root for him. I think the thing for me is that if you just look at pure football mechanical ability, he probably shouldn't even be on the goddamn field. But he's one of those guys that just figures out a way to succeed by sheer will, and has the power to make his teammates play better, which is really rare these days.

I think the biggest proof of the last statement is the Broncos defense. It's basically the same group that was playing when they started out 1-4, but since Tebow has come in, they've played out of their minds, and the team is 7-5. They didn't get more talented- they're just playing harder. The whole squad thinks they can win now, and it's been fun to watch the change in the team. And it's only happened for one reason.

The other part that's fascinated me is how polarizing this has become across the country. Every morning, I wake up to three or four guys on ESPN2 screaming at each other about either how good Tim Tebow is, or how much he sucks. They talk about it every day. Why? This is one quarterback on a fairly mediocre football team, and these dickheads are jumping up and down, yelling like crazy.

While I'm working, I listen to a nationally syndicated sports talk show hosted by Jim Rome. And every day, especially lately, it's been mostly about Tebow. Why the crap does everyone care so much about this? What is it about this kid that makes everyone so passionate about their opinions? I truly don't get it.

For me, the reason I'm pulling for him is because I like his character. Character is a big deal for me, and the biggest reason why I hate basketball. Most of those idiots don't have any character, and can't spell the fucking word. Go ahead, basketball lovers, send me some more shitty emails, I don't give a rat's ass. I wish they would have stayed locked out forever. Fuck 'em.

But Tebow at least appears to be a nice kid. He's very polite with the media, and hasn't once taken an opportunity to show his middle finger to all the haters out there, including his boss, John Elway. So many guys would be looking right in the camera, and saying "Five in a row, bitch! Now shut the fuck up!" Not Tebow. Honestly, I'll bet he's thinking that, but he's doing a great job keeping it to himself.

There are a couple of things about him, though, that I could probably do without. He pushes the religion thing pretty hard, and it kind of puts me off a little bit. Don't get me wrong- I think if a person believes, that's terrific. I do myself, but I think it's more of a personal choice, and maybe he shouldn't bring it into every conversation and action on the field. It's probably just me, but I personally think God has more important shit to worry about than a football game.

The other thing is, I do not believe for one instant that Tim Tebow is still a virgin. Holy jumpin' smokes, have you seen his girlfriend?



Come on, now. Imagine you're 24 years old, you've never had any poonannie, and you come within ten feet of that girl's sweater meat. I'm not a doctor, but your balls are going to explode, right? They'd have to bring in a fuckin' haz-mat team to clean up the mess. Sorry Timmy, I'm not buying that one. In the worst case, she's giving you the old Pogo Pumper. I'd bet one of my kids on this.

So there you go. I'm back to watching football, at least the Broncos, for now. If they make the playoffs, I'll watch until they get bounced, and then I'll turn the game back off. I'll watch the Super Bowl because there's a good chance I'll be in some kind of pool, and it's the only time I ever watch commercials.

In the meantime, I'll be pulling for this good, decent kid to succeed. The thing now is, I think we're going to have him here in Denver for awhile. If Elway or Coach Fox tries to get rid of him in the offseason, there's going to be one hell of a revolt from the fans, and whoever would replace him won't ever have a chance.

Just ask Kyle Orton how much fun that is. I think he's working at a Denny's in Kansas City right now.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Old Dawgs Escape With 2-1 Shootout Win

They may be in fifth place, but there's just something about Team Yellow that gives the Old Dawgs trouble. Back in late October, they gave the Dawgs their only loss of the winter SDOHL season, 2-1 in an overtime shootout.

Last Thursday night, it was the Old Dawgs turn, as they won by exactly the same score in a nail biting, nine round extra session. The two points keeps them three clear of Touchstone Imaging at the top of the SDOHL table.

Rand Peterson scored his third goal of the season five minutes into the final period to key the Old Dawgs comeback, and set the stage for the exciting overtime win. Goalie Doug Witschger, subbing for the rapidly falling apart Al Sterner, was terrific, stopping 25 of 26 shots in regulation, and all nine in the shootout.

The teams played a scoreless first period, but it wasn't for lack of shots. Team Yellow had 11 and the Dawgs had 10, but neither squad could find the back of the net. Team Yellow got the only goal of the second period, with Jay Johnson scoring from the point after the Dawgs failed in roughly a dozen attempts to get the puck out of the zone.

But five minutes into the final frame, Rand Peterson gathered in a pass from Old Dawgs captain and former rim job expert Marty Richardson, made a nice move on Yellow goalie Dave Maney, and tucked the puck into the net to draw his team level.

The game stayed even at one for the final ten minutes, even though the Dawgs had the best of the play, outshooting the opponent by an 11-5 margin. So just like October, the game would be decided by penalty shots. The one big difference was that this guy wouldn't be in goal for the Old Dawgs:



Yes, Al Sterner, who played the October shootout like quadriplegics fuck (which is not very well and sadly flopping around), would be cooling his heels on the Old Dawgs bench, nursing a very sore uterus. And thank God for that, as Witschger made save after save as the shootout rolled on.

The Old Dawgs experienced a very special moment in the seventh round of the session, when Eric Wilks took his turn. With a chance to be a hero and win the game, he skated right over the top of the puck as he crossed the blue line, and left the elusive black disk right there without ever getting a shot.




After Witschger made his ninth and final save, and wondered silently whether he was going to have to score a goal himself to end the fucking thing, up stepped defenseman Greg Clinard. Clinard, who works full time developing Ponzi schemes and jacking old ladies out of their life savings, skated in, actually bringing the puck with him (unlike Wilks), and did something none of the previous eight Old Dawgs skaters did. He made a goddamn move, instead of shooting directly into Maney's pads. When Maney opened his legs, the Nard Dawg calmly did something he can't do at home with his wife: he slipped it through the old five hole, and the game was finally over.


Nard Dawg, sporting trademark shit eating grin. Isn't he precious?

The Old Dawgs now have another tough test this week when they face off against the Coyotes, featuring solid goalie Ted Cetaruk. And it appears that Al Sterner will be back in net, so one goal will certainly not be enough to win this week. Game time is set for 9:55.

In other Dawgs news:

A religious man, Old Dawgs forward Eddie Cribbs spent time this week getting ready for Christmas in his own special way.



Eddie, ready to release his "Christmas mass"

This week Old Dawgs forward and war veteran Mike Sullivan participated in a reunion to commemorate the anniversity of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The other soldiers were angry when they discovered that Sully was actually a pilot in the Japanese Air Force.


"Bonzai!!"

This week Old Dawgs goalie Al Sterner won the Vagina Trophy in the Foothills Over 40 Select League. The award, named for ex-beer league goalie legend Georges Vagina, is given to the keeper who lets in the fewest goals during the regular season. Because the league only plays a 10 week schedule, commissioner John Ling decided to present a smaller trophy, or "Mini Vagina".


The trophy has several uses

This week Old Dawgs captain Marty Richardson finally decided to see what all the fuss was about.


"It's true! I'll never go back!"

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Old Dawgs Stretch League Lead With 6-2 Win

The Old Dawgs increased their first place SDOHL margin to four points last Thursday night with a convincing 6-2 victory over Touchstone Imaging. Playing maybe their best game of the year so far, the Dawgs scored early and often, and cruised home with a big win over the second place squad.

Old Dawgs captain and former anal spelunker Marty Richardson led a balanced attack, scoring his fifth and sixth goals of the season. Mike Freeman and Mike Wimmer both continue to impress, each scoring a single marker, Rand Peterson got his second, and defenseman Greg Clinard finally contributed something other than his shit eating grin, banging home his first of the 2011 campaign.


Nard Dawg

Dawgs forward Mario Lopez assisted on three of his teammates' goals, and now is fifth in scoring in the SDOHL with eight points.

Goalie Al Sterner, aside from letting in another of his trademark shocking goals, played okay for a broken down old fat boy, stopping 25 of 27 shots. He is now second in the SDOHL in both save percentage and total saves, falling behind some hernia ridden, punk-ass kid from B&K Supply that posted a 41 save shutout last week.


Screw you, Timmy. Your wife says I'm better in bed, so there.

Both teams came out flying in the first period, but it was the Old Dawgs that broke through five minutes in for the first goal. Mike Freeman, once again proving he's much smarter than he looks, parked in just the perfect spot in front of the net to stuff in a rebound from an Eric Wilks shot. It was his career best fourth goal of the winter season, and gave his team the all important lead.

Richardson doubled the Old Dawgs lead ten minutes later, taking a pass from the ever solid defenseman Dave Chamberlin, and drilling one past Touchstone goalie Vince Sciandra. Then Greg Clinard made it 3-0 right before the end of the opening session, slotting in his first from the top of the circle.

After Richardson nailed his second of the game three minutes into the middle period, things were looking great for the Old Dawgs with a four goal lead. But Sterner, after stopping all 10 Touchstone shots in the first, let in a howler at the four minute mark. Doc Lyons lifted a weak shot in from the blue line that bounced in front of Sterner, struck the tip of his stick, and delected right under the crossbar. 4-1, and new life for Touchstone.

 
Sterner

Things got less comfortable three minutes later, when Touchstone's Keith Horstman skated in on a breakaway, and beat Sterner like a Saudi woman with an opinion to cut the Dawgs lead in half. But Rand Peterson restored order for the good guys right near the end of the second, and the lead was back to 5-2 entering the third.

Even though Touchstone peppered the Dawgs goal in the final frame with 13 shots, it was the Old Dawgs that got the only tally, when Mike Wimmer wristed in his third of the year to seal the game. They are now featuring a very balanced attack, with five players in the top 12 in SDOHL scoring.

The boys now resume play after the Thanksgiving break, taking on Team Yellow, the only team to have blemished the Old Dawgs record thus far. Back in October, they defeated the Dawgs 2-1 in a shootout, when Al Sterner assumed the role of a big block of swiss cheese. Game time is 7:15.

In other Old Dawgs news:

This week Old Dawgs defenseman Jimmy Tiernan was caught cheating on his girlfriend Trina. Most say that if he was going to step out, he might have made a better choice in partners.


Goddamn, I love Facebook...

An old photo was uncovered this week, showing Old Dawgs part time player Rodney Saunders trying his hand at surfing in the 1980's. He abandoned the idea when he heard everyone asking, "When did Tom Cruise get AIDS?"




Old Dawgs captain Marty Richardson signed yet another endorsement deal this week. The product is an absolute match with his personality.


"You will never be truly happy...'til you eat some fuckin' Cappy"

This week the talented hockey players in the Pijanowski family got together for a group photograph. And they were also joined by Tito.


Sing it with me, kids- "One of these things is not like the others...one of these things just doesn't belong..."

Old Dawgs forward Mike Sullivan picked up an assist in the second period Thursday night. It was his first point of the season, and he has now scored in every decade since the 1960's.


Sully, circa 1968. Hasn't really changed that much...